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Floods in Greece as potential ‘Medicane’ wreaks havoc

A powerful storm moving across the southeastern Mediterranean has already dumped more than 20 inches of rain on central Greece and caused widespread flooding. The upper level low pressure system, called “Daniel”, has characteristics of a “medicane” or Mediterranean tropical cyclone.

“This is an extreme weather phenomenon,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a meeting Tuesday with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service, the Greek government’s weather agency, issued red warnings, the highest warning category, for dangerous flash flooding after more than 20 inches of rain fell in the central region.

“Heavy rain will continue in Greece through Thursday thanks to an Omega block that keeps Storm Daniel close for a couple of additional days,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls wrote in a note.

The Greek town of Portaria has been the most affected by the torrential rain. It reported 23.65 inches early Tuesday, while nearby areas such as Volos and Agia provinces recorded nearly 8 inches.

Videos on social media show flash flooding across Greece and the islands, which is expected to continue for the next 24 to 48 hours.

AccuWeather forecasters warn that Daniel could strengthen to become a “medicine” as it moves through the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Daniel comes as Greece has been battling wildfires across the country this summer. Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said recently that almost 100 people have been arrested for starting fires. He called them “incendiary slag.”

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